TRAFFIC AND SAFETY INFORMATIONAL SERIES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION #1

WON'T A “Children at Play” sign helP

protect our children?

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) regulates the design, use, and placement of signs and markings in the United States. The “Children at Play” sign is considered a warning sign with a word message. It is sometimes used instead of the nationally recognized “Playground” sign (see Figure 1). The purpose of any warning sign is to inform drivers of conditions that they are likely to consistently encounter. Drivers begin to ignore warning signs when this is not true.

“Children at Play” and “playground” signs

Warning signs should be uniformly designed and often communicate their message most efficiently through the use of symbols. Warning signs that are not consistently uniform can confuse drivers. The “Children at Play” sign, for example, has several variations. These include “Slow-Children” and “Caution-Children at Play.” The MUTCD recommends that all nonuniform signs be removed.

A sign with a similar message, but in symbol form, has been approved for use in the MUTCD. The “Playground” symbol sign is shown in Figure 1. It is recommended in the MUTCD that this sign be placed to warn motorists of a designated playground or a play area with a high volume of children. The placement of this sign is one option for areas where the conflict of children and vehicles may be encountered on a regular basis.


FIGURE 1 Playground sign.

Reference: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Overuse OR MISUSE OF WARNING signS

The overuse or misuse of any warning sign (including “Children at Play” signs) is a major concern. Drivers begin to ignore warning signs if they are overused and there is not a consistent obvious need for them. For example, if a large number of “Children at Play” or “Playground” signs are installed, the sign itself would become ineffective since drivers would see them constantly (without any apparent hazard) and eventually begin to ignore them. This would, of course, defeat the whole purpose of installing the sign (even where it is really needed).

PLacing signs does not Slow VEHICLES

Finally, the speeds people choose to drive along a roadway are primarily determined by the roadway characteristics and environment and by the level of comfort and safety the driver perceives. In many cases, “Children at Play” or “Playground” (i.e., a sign with children on a teeter-totter) signs are placed along local neighborhood roadways, and the users of these roadways are local residents and are typically aware of children in the neighborhood. The characteristics and environment of many local residential roadways also usually produce relatively low speeds. In this type of environment, a reduction in general vehicle speeds through the placement of a “Children at Play” or “Playground” sign should not be expected (especially when the hazard is not consistently clear to the driver).

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